The most comprehensive coverage ever written of the influence of hymns on the lives and administrations of America's presidents. Each chapter begins with a concise presentation of each president's path to the White House and his accomplishments and failures as president, then how each president regarded music, whether or not he was musical, and music in the White House during each president's administration. These hymns may be related to developments in the life of the president including his spiritual journey, major decisions he had to make as president, or even his selection of the inaugural Scripture. The book covers a panorama of hymnody from 1614 to the 1980s.